Tosic prepares for launch

Serbian winger Zoran Tosic hopes to use the European U21 Championships as a springboard for his United career.

The 22-year-old has made two fleeting first team appearances since arriving from Partizan Belgrade in January, but has spent the majority of the last six month's acclimatizing in the Reds' Reserves.

As an integral part of the Serbia team contesting its fifth successive championships this summer, however, Tosic is aiming to go into the 2009/10 season on a personal high.

"I can't wait for it to start," Zoran told UEFA's official website. "It will be a very good experience to play in the championship again and I'm very happy because of that.

"The championship is very good experience for every young player. I have to practice, to get stronger, to get faster, to be better in all aspects and I feel the U21 championship will help me and I can prove I'm a United player."

Dark horses Serbia begin their Group A campaign against much-fancied Italy on 16 June, before facing Sweden and Belarus, and Tosic is confident his nation can upset the odds and take the title home.

"The people from Serbia expect us to do well and we hope we can, but it is one thing to talk about winning, we have to go there and prove we are the best," he said. "What is important is how you come into the game. If you are concentrated and every player wants to win that is all that is important, not names."

Cantona: The goalscorer

No tribute to Le Roi would be complete without a look at some of his most exquisite goals - the elaborate signature of his five stunning seasons at Old Trafford...

United 1 Arsenal 0 Old Trafford, 19 September, 1993
While renowned for his artistry and craft, Eric had brute force in spades. His ability to do the most effective thing meant that he often resorted to simplicity - in this case, just wallop it in the top corner. 30 yards out, against England's number one, but only the reinforced netting prevented there from being Stretford End casualties.

United 2 QPR 1 Old Trafford, 30 October, 1993
As well as the big occasions, Cantona could also take care of more humdrum opponents. A list of forgotten men are reeled off as he nudges the ball around Alan McDonald, speeds towards Clive Wilson and Darren Peacock before drilling a low shot past Jan Stejskal. Fans of old-fashioned physical football will appreciate Mark Hughes' subtle block on Peacock in the build-up.

United 1 Blackburn 0 Old Trafford, 22 January, 1995
Ignore the fact that he was inside the six yard box, this was one of the King's crowning moments. His final act in the 1994/95 season (prior to his Selhurst Park antics and his press conference tomfoolery) was this vital winner against Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn. Having sprinted and contorted to get on the end of Giggsy's cross, a regal nod was all that was required to put United - albeit temporarily - back ahead of Rovers in an absorbing title race.

United 1 Arsenal 0 Old Trafford, 20 March 1996
A rare lack of communication between David Seaman and his defence left Cantona with a loose ball, some 30 yards from goal. That Seaman was still back-pedalling as Eric unleashed a volley goalwards mattered not. Old 'Safe Hands' could have been atop a ladder and he still would have been helpless, so vicious was the dip on the shot as it clipped the underside of the bar and secured three priceless points towards the title.

United 1 Tottenham 0 Old Trafford, 24 March, 1996
With six goals in his previous eight games, Eric was the poster boy for United's 1995/96 title charge, striking winner after winner in a virtuoso run of form, including this decisive strike in a tense clash with Spurs. Having picked the ball up around halfway and drifted infield, Cantona's confidence was clearly overflowing as he opted - successfully - to drill home a left-footed winner past Ian Walker.

United 1 Liverpool 0 Wembley Stadium, 11 May, 1996
Perhaps the dullest FA Cup Final on record, but still one of the sweetest to recall after Cantona sealed his own redemption and the Double Double. After error-prone goalkeeper David James had flapped comically at Beckham's corner, the ball broke to Eric on the edge of the area. No matter that he needed to almost dislocate his hip to deal with the awkward bounce; the ball arrowed through a mêlée of hapless, exhausted Liverpool players before nestling beautifully in the only chink of goal he could aim for.

United 5 Sunderland 0 Old Trafford, 21 December, 1996
Close your eyes and you can still see it. A quick pirouette on the halfway line to evade two defenders, then a breakneck chase goalwards, a drumskin-tight one-two with Choccy and then the most sumptuous of chips in off the post. Simply glorious, and notable for the hallmark celebration; a slow-motion 360 degree turn to all corners of Old Trafford as if to say: "yep, that just happened."

08/09 Review: Rooney

While debate raged over the relative merits of Berbatov and Tevez in the front line, nobody questioned the inclusion of one Reds striker...

Wayne Rooney may have operated in a number of roles in 2008/09, but it didn't stop him being hugely effective for the Reds, playing at full throttle with spectacular scoring bursts and all-action displays. And despite the red mist at Fulham, his maturity was influential in United's success.

Start to finish: With Cristiano Ronaldo injured and Dimitar Berbatov yet to arrive, United started the season with Rooney shouldering the attacking responsibility along with Carlos Tevez. It took Wayne a few weeks to get into the scoring groove but, as ever, when he found his range he was utterly devastating. In the autumn we were treated to a scoring streak of nine in seven matches in all competitions, a spell Rooney admitted was the best form of his career. An unfortunate by-product of his uncompromising attitude is always the risk of injury and in mid-January Wayne damaged his hamstring after just eight minutes of the Wigan home match – having scored the only goal of the game after 54 seconds. He returned after six weeks out and was immediately back in the goals, netting against Fulham and Blackburn in the space of four days, and continued to exert considerable influence as the Reds marched relentlessly to a third successive title.

In position: Wazza famously will play in any position in training and fancies himself as one of the best goalkeepers at the club, and while his versatility doesn’t stretch quite that far on matchdays, he’s willing to perform whichever role the manager feels necessary. Sometimes used up front on his own, increasingly he starts off on the left side, and while it may not be his preferred position, he’ll perform his role with nothing less than 100 per cent.

Season highlights: Wayne's tally of 20 goals in all competitions including the winner in the FIFA Club World Cup final. In the league, the 5-2 thriller at home to Spurs will live long in the memory and while Tevez’s high-impact substitute appearance was the comeback’s catalyst, Rooney was at the centre of everything, scoring two, making two and setting up Michael Carrick for the penalty shout that started it all off.

Vital contribution: Coming from Merseyside, Rooney fully understands the importance of derby days, and this season he was delighted to score the decisive goal away at City.

Any lows: His injury aside, the sending off against Fulham was harsh, but was another bleak moment in a nightmare seven days.

Any other business: The nation’s journalists recognised Rooney’s contribution this season, voting him third in their Footballer of the Year poll.

Terry elated for Neville

England captain John Terry has lavished praise on United defender Gary Neville, with the Reds' club captain on the brink of a first international cap in over two years.

After two-and-a-half seasons disrupted by injury, Neville was restored to Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra, and Terry is delighted to see the 34-year-old back on the international scene.

“It’s fantastic to see his hunger,” said the Chelsea skipper. “I’ve always said he’s been a great role model, to me included. He’s a great player to have round the squad.

"If players are out of the squad, Gaz has shown if you work hard and play well then you’ll get your chance back in the side."

Neville is widely tipped to win his 86th cap against Andorra on Wednesday evening, with Capello admitting he is fit enough to play and first choice right-back Glen Johnson walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Papers: Wayne's world

Rooney close to world's best
Emile Heskey believes Wayne Rooney is not that far off being able to call himself the world's best. Lionel Messi is tipped to shade Cristiano Ronaldo for that tag this year but after a stellar season with Manchester United and England, Heskey added his weight to the argument suggesting Rooney is up there with the very best. "Rooney's not far behind the likes of Messi and Ronaldo," he said. "At any given time, players like that can pull something out of the hat that can make a goal. Wayne's not far away from that." Although the 23-year-old has not complained himself, there are those who feel Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to use him in a wider role at United has taken the edge off his game. Heskey takes a different view, feeling the trust Ferguson has in the former Everton star emphasises his quality. "Wayne might not like playing in different positions but he has the ability to do it. That shows how good a footballer he is," he said. "He is different to the other strikers I have played with. He doesn't play directly up front. He drops off and mixes it around. He is a great player. A lot has been said about him. Now he is living up to it."
Staff reporter, Daily Express

In The Sun, England coach Fabio Capello reveals his intricate motivation he used to fuel Rooney's fine goalscoring form for the Three Lions. "I told him to stand in front of the goal," says the Italian.

In transfer news, fresh from snaring Brazilian superstar Kaka, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insists he will do 'everything possible' to take Cristiano Ronaldo to the Santiago Bernabeu. Again.

Blog: Midfield myriad

In the third part of our squad review, first-team coach Rene Meulensteen assesses how United's midfield roster performed during 2008/09...

Most of the time, games are won in midfield. It's where you stop the opposition from becoming dangerous and creating chances. Being the sort of team we are, it’s where our creativity, switches of play and penetrative passes are generated. Our midfielders link everything from defence to attack.

We have a number of combinations we can use in the centre and wide, and that unpredictability makes it difficult for the opposition to work out how to play against us. We’ve got the older heads in Giggsy and Scholesy, who still make a massive contribution because they know what it takes to win trophies. Then we’ve got Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Darron Gibson.

Michael is getting better and better. We’ve worked on his forward runs and he can be more defensive, too, because he has the tactical intelligence and discipline to do that. Fletch is a fantastic competitor, probably our best in midfield in that respect. If we want people closed down, he’s good at that.

Ando became stronger as the season went on. He penetrates by running forward with the ball and finding the right passes. There’s more to come from him, and also Gibbo - it’s no surprise that when he’s come into the first team he’s done fantastically well.

As for the wide players, Ji-sung Park is very important because wing men need to support the central midfielders, and he has the tactical awareness to know where he needs to be. Plus he always has the energy to get forward in attack, which is very difficult to defend against. People don’t always give him the credit for what he does.

It was a difficult season for Nani, but he has everything you’d wish for in a footballer in his position. He has two good feet, plus he’s quick, explosive, direct and skilful.

We’re hoping to have a fully-fit Owen Hargreaves next season. That’s a big asset, like a top-class new signing, and you can’t have too many quality players, particularly with the amount of games we have most seasons.

Rene Meulensteen was speaking to Inside United magazine. A special issue celebrating the Reds' 18th title success is on sale now and can be ordered online.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Ryan Giggs

Paul Scholes

Michael Carrick

Darren Fletcher

Anderson

Darron Gibson

Ji-sung Park